If I had to only grow one type of produce I think it would have to be herby. So much flavour, wonderful feel-good aromas, many healthinducing properties, and leaves guaranteed to bring oodles of excitement and culinary opportunity to the kitchen.
As if that wasn't enough, most herbs are also brilliant for pollinators and many wildlife, many are dead easy to grow, standing firm over winter and dutifully returning year on year out with little to no effort from you at all. These more resilient rascals afford fantastic little-fuss edible harvests which are hard to beat. With the right herbs, one plant has the potential to grow an incredibly long way so it's an investment well worth making.
MINT
Speaking of rascals, this delicious herb is notorious for its cheeky spreading tendencies. It's certainly built for survival as it has an ability to grow far and wide given half the opportunity. It actually prefers less fertile growing conditions so for reliable, more controllable harvests consider growing mint in wilder areas of your plot where it can spread without causing mischief.
For example I let some grow in a herb, gravel rockery near my polytunnels which provides a lovely wildlife attracting scent by my undercover growing space and helps prevent mint from taking over. Wild areas lend themselves well to the growing of mint and it can root well within gravel and stone laden areas for easy pickings.
If you plan to grow some in pots do ensure that you add lots of top soil or leaf mould and don't make the mixture too rich as mint prefers more barren growing conditions and the ability to grow a little wild.
この記事は The Country Smallholder の June 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は The Country Smallholder の June 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection
Choosing feed for the autumn
As autumn approaches, Joanna Palmer, nutritionist at the Smallholder Range, offers advice on choosing the right feed to support your adult birds through their annual moult and ensure your young birds grow and finish well at this time of the year.
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite
Give your hens some support
Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds
